Surprise victory fulfills first win wish

There’s nothing better than a surprise win in harness racing – unless that surprise win is your very first!

That was the case for New South Wales hobby trainer Hayley Ingold with her mare Secret Wish (Hes Watching) at Newcastle earlier this month (Jan 5).

Secret Wish was unwanted by punters, sent out a $26 chance – and even her trainer didn’t really dare to hope from the five-year-old’s barrier four draw.

“I honestly just thought she could run a place, but to get the win – it’s a bit surreal when you are not expecting it,” Ingold said.

“It was just so exciting, and a huge thrill to get that first win out of the way.”

Secret Wish was pinged from the gate by driver Blake Hughes, and immediately handed up the lead to Hot Jiving (Bevan Pringle) and was content to take the sit throughout. When the speed went on with 600 metres to go, Our Ultimate Ivy (Tom Callaghan) made a lightning dash and looked to be the winner on straightening.  But Secret Wish knuckled down in the run home, to score by 1.2 metres over Our Ultimate Ivy and Corlette.

To watch the race replay, click here.

Secret Wish is just the second horse the 26-year-old Ingold, of Reedy Creek near Singleton, has trained since taking out her licence two years ago, following her father and grandfather into the sport.

“My dad (Dean) has been a trainer all of my life, so I’ve always taken an interest.  When I was younger, I played a lot of tennis and that took up my time, but as I got older, I turned back to the horses,” she said.

“Dad was only ever a hobby trainer like I am, and we’ve had a few slow ones! But my grandfather (Charlie Camilleri) always had a nice team, and a couple of very nice horses. I used to spend school holidays and weekends out there as well.”

The late Hunter Valley trainer and studmaster Camilleri prepared some handy horses from the 1970s, until he passed away in 2015.  Arguably the best was Chico D’Oro (32 wins), but well-performed horses in his stable also included Takara Stature (25 wins), Dune Jaccka and Sunny’s Halo.

Ingold, like her dad, is one whose hobby is motivated by her love of the animals and the pleasure she gets from the training routine.

“I’ve got a full-time job as a practice manager at a medical and skin clinic so I can only be a hobby trainer.  But they are really flexible about me being able to have a day off if I am racing, which is great,” Ingold said.

“I own Secret Wish with my sister Brooke, so it was nice to get the win with her and I’ve made so many friends through harness racing – it’s a great sport in that way.

“I just train this one and a two-year-old that I bred.  So, fingers crossed she turns out okay.  But training the horses and being with them just takes your mind off work and life. I love to start my day off with something different and come home to them again at the end of the day.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink